Empty liquor bottles often end up in dumping yards or garbage bins. Some people use them to grow money plants or keep refreshments. However, little have we thought that these used bottles can also be transformed into colourful pieces of art by some innovation and hardwork.
As per media reports, now several artists of Vadodara, who are into bottle designing for years, are devising new ways to make them more attractive, useful and artistic for a wider appeal. And incidentally, there has been an increase in the number of clients approaching them in the past couple of years for the same. Several people in Vadodara, who desire to keep the liquor bottles as collectibles are now approaching them to get them transformed aesthetically into storage jars, planters, barware, platters, decorative pieces and several other items that exude style and art.
Raees Merchant, who perfected the art over years, started it initially as a hobby and then a full-time profession in 1997. Merchant even met the Faculty of Fine Arts of the MS University to gain insight. “Initially only a few were interested in the work but we kept working and improvising on the technique and designs. Now, due to more awareness, a larger number of people are approaching us,” he said.
Another artist, Ekta Doctor who has her studio in Gorwa BIDC believes that the work is environment-friendly since it involves upcycling and recycling glass. Doctor started working on glass 15 years back and then started her all-woman team studio 13 years back. “I got interested in the art of glass designing and did a course in glass design from the United Kingdom,” she added. Besides cutting and etching on glass, her studio also moulds bottles into interesting decorative pieces and household items. She even makes jewellery from bottles.
Though demands are rising, this doesn’t translate into much financial gain for the artists. Many said that while they were getting more work now, it has not translated into increased profits due to 18 per cent GST and the reluctance of many to spend on recycled bottle articles. They said most were doing it for passion as profit was little. There is no GST bracket for such works even when it is recycling and upcycling bottles which would otherwise end up in garbage.
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